Boat carrier for use on recreational vehicles

ABSTRACT

A boat carrier for use on the top of tent trailers, campers, and the like having a rotatable and carrier or roller member to facilitate loading of the boat. The roller member is rotatably supported by two laterally spaced, vertical support members each of which removably engages a base plate screwed to the top of the cover. The roller member and vertical support members are readily removed from the cover top when the carrier is not in use.

United States Patent 1 Lund 51 June 5, 1973 [54] BOAT CARRIER FOR USE ON RECREATIONAL VEHICLES [75] Inventor: Kerry G. Lund, St. Paul, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Pic-A-Tent-Top Carrier, Inc., St.

Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: May 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 145,159

521 U.S.C1 ..224/42.1 u,214 s4,214/450 s1 1nt.Cl ..B60r9/04 [58] FieldofSearch ..224/42.1R,42.1F,

224/42.1 1-1, 42.1 D, 42.1 G, 42.45 R, 42.45 A; 211/105.1; 248/251, 261, 267, 224, 225, 262, 26 4, 254; 214/450, 84

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1949 Brei ..224 42.1 a

2,859,887 11/1958 Haight ..224/42.1 11 1,824,385 9/1931 Wintrob ....248/262 X 3,615,069 10/1971 Bott ..224/42.1D

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-John Mannix AttorneyMerchant & Gould [57] ABSTRACT I A boat carrier for use on the top of tent trailers, campers, and the like having a rotatable and carrier or roller member to facilitate loading of the boat. The roller member is rotatably supported by two laterally spaced, vertical support members each of which removably engages a base plate screwed to the top of the cover. The roller member and vertical support members are readily removed from the cover. top when the carrier is not in use.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BOAT CARRIER FOR USE ON RECREATIONAL VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to boat carrier apparatus for use on the top of recreational vehicle covers.

The utilization of camping trailers, campers for pickups, pick-up covers and the like is becoming increasingly popular. The increased popularity of such equipment has resulted primarily from (1) the greatly increased interest in camping as a recreational activity generally and (2) the numerous advantages this type of camping equipment offers over commercially available tents (e.g. elimination of the time-consuming need to pitch tents).

Typically, the presently available campers, camping trailers and the like are constructed from a durable, light weight metal (e.g. aluminum) which is of sufficient strength to support a considerable load placed on the top thereof. Thus, owners of this type of camping equipment frequently transport boats (or other large objects) on the top of the recreational vehicle cover. Presently, the boat is loaded either (1) directly onto the top of the vehicle cover or (2) it is carried by a roof-top carrier of any number of commercially available designs. Either of these two present approaches, however, has its disadvantages. For instance, mounting the boat directly onto the top of a pick-up camper frequently results in damage (e.g. loss of paint) to both the boat and the camper. Similarly, the use of the presently available roof-top carriers necessitates a considerable expenditure of time and energy in mounting and securing the carrier to the camper top (e.g. in positioning the carrier, strapping it down, etc.). An additional amount of time and energy is then spent in loading the boat onto the carrier. While it is known to provide a rotatable roller member for facilitating the loading of the boat onto a boat carrier (see, U.S. Pat. No. 2,469,987), the known rotatable carriers are for use on automobile roofs and do not readily lend themselves to use on recreational vehicle covers. For example, such carriers are commonly secured to the automobile by suction cups and, in most instances, straps which do not provide as secure a mounting on the vehicle as is desirable. This is particularly true when the vehicle will be traveling over rough roads such as is frequently the case for camping equipment. Thus, boat carrier apparatus which is particularly suited for use on the top of campers, camping trailers, etc. is commercially desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides load carrier apparatus for use on the top of recreational vehicle covers such as campers, trailer tents, and the like. The carrier apparatus includes a rotatable roller member which is supported by two transversely spaced support members. Each of the support members includes a generally vertically extending element having an outwardly directed flange along the bottom edge thereof and a generally horizontally extending base element which is preferably attached to the top surface of the vehicle cover by screw-like means. The base element has a slotlike opening for removably receiving the flange along the bottom edge of the vertical element to prevent vertical motion of the vertical support element. Additional means are associated with the vertical support element to prevent horizontal motion thereof and to retain this element within the slot-like opening. The roller member extends transversely between the vertical support elements and is rotatably supported thereby for rotation in response to the movement of a load (e.g. a boat) thereover.

In accordance with the present invention, the base element of each of the support members preferably remains secured to the vehicle cover after its initial installation. The screw-like means which is used to secure each base element to the vehicle cover provides secure and dependable attachment of the carrier. When the carrier is not in use, the roller member and the vertical support elements can be readily disconnected from the fixedly attached base elements. Thus, the present invention provides a rotatable carrier which is fixedly secured to the camper top or other similar recreational vehicle cover, but which, for the most part, can be readily removed when not in use. Additional advantages such as the simplicity of the present design will become apparent from a reading of the Detailed Description hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present load carrying apparatus shown mounted on the top of a tent trailer and having a boat carried thereby;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, fragmented view of the present boat carrier;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the support member utilized in the present invention taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to a detailed description of the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the'numeral l0 generally designates the load carrier apparatus provided by the present invention. Carrier apparatus 10 is particularly well suited for transporting aboat 12, although it can be utilized to transport any number of other large objects (e.g. large pieces of lumber). As shown, boat carrier 10 (i.e. identical front and rear carriers 10) is mounted on a top 13 of a recreational vehicle cover 14. For purposes of this invention, the term recreational vehicle cover refers to pick-up covers, pick-up campers, camping trailers, and'the like. In FIG. 1, the recreational vehicle cover 14 is illustrated as a camping trailer. While this type of vehicular equipment may have many uses outside of the recreational area, it is primarily intended for this purpose and hence will be referred to herein as recreational" vehicular covers or equipment.

Boat carrier 10 includes a roller member 20 which is rotatably supported above trailer top 13 by two transversely spaced, support members 21 and 22. Each of the support members 21 and 22 includes a vertical support element 24 and a generally horizontally extending base element 26.

Base support element 26 includes a generally planar surface or base plate 27 which extends horizontally generally parallel to trailer top 13. An inclined inner edge 28 connected to a flange 29 raises the base plate 27 to a height generally equal to that of a raised molding 30 which extends about the edge of camper top 13. An outer edge 32 of base plate 27 extends vertically tending through flange 537and base plate-27.j

base plate 27. Base plate 27 furt herincludes a plurality of 40 extending therethro'ugh; A sheet metal screwl42 is 1 de wald aboh t tlie buterYedge of m 1din ;;30.Aii n- 7 7- 7 zontallyextending,slotalike jopening 3S is.defineaizlflaya1 raised portion of thebaseplate 27; Thisraisedportion to provide adj The beet e of the vertical supportelernents 24 (e .g. the rear, leftinsertable througheachopening 40 and screwable the trailer top 13 so as to fixedly secure] base support 26 to top 13. Numerous alternative Ineanssuch as bolts, various adhesivesset c; can also be utiliaed jto fixedly secure the base support 26 to "the campertop generally inverted u-shaped memberfhaving awverti fl cally extending inner surface 50and a ar 11e1,;&mg cally extending outer surface 51. A horizontallyeib tendingflange 53 extends outward awayffroni the bot tom edge of the vertical inner surface slllAs willbej subsequently described greater detaihthe 7flarige53 ling urface 50 also includes a circular opening 54 for journalling the roller member 20. A slotlike openinglS S is positioned in the inner surface 50 and the outer surface 51 for rfe supportelernent 24'to base supportelement 22. When norme in themanner shown, theslot-likeopening 35 7 preventsverticaI and longitudinalmovement of the verjtical supports 24 and the pins 767 throughroller mer'nber,2llypreventstransverse or laterally outward move; inent thereof. After similarly connecting the vertical ports 24 and roller member 20 to the forward base supports 26, the carrier 10 is ready to receive a boat.

ping) to boat 1.2;7Th Mb pp yd p x k I Toloadboat l2 ontothe boat carrier 10, the forward ends 66 of tubular roller member20 areeachfjour-fll nalled within one of the circular openingssdin vertical is suitable for insertioninto the slotdilre u base support element 26;The verticalinnerfs ceiving therein an end of aload strapflfim Aconfvem 1 tional cotter pin 62 is insertable throughanopening in the inner surface 50 andthe outer surface f lforthek purpose subsequently described.

supports 24 so as to beirotatably supported thereby. The ends 66 of roller member 20 eachinjclude anopen ing 67 extending transversely therethrou ghrA pin 68 If 7 7 having a'length greater than the diameter of opening 54 isinsertable in each of the openings 67.;As shown, pin 68 ispositioned transversely outward from "the inner vertical surface 50 between inner andouter surfaces 50 and 51. Thus, pin 68 provides means for re nioveably retaining the journalled roller member 20 within opening 54. This also retains the flange 53 ofvertical sup-7 port element 24 within theslot-like opening j3 5iinbase element 22 (Le. prevents:transverselylbutwardinove mentthereof). It should be understooihowever; that numerous alternative means can beg provided) for A3 removeably attaching the vertical supper 7.7elehi nt24 to the base element 22such as a pininot whfejr The load or boat strap 60 includes twostjrap halves 7 60a and60b each having a looped end70 whichf'is in- 17 sertable into the slot-like opening 54 in the innrjand outer surfaces 50 and SLQA pin 71 is insertablethrough 7 ings d andscrewed into top 13. The flange 53 of one mostsupport 24 in FIG L 2) isthen inserted into theslotlike opening 35in theirespective base support 26 to mount support anupright position. An end 66 of rollermernbejr 20 isinserted into the opening 54 in the upright support 24'and the pin 68 isinserted into'opensup it i 7 I v 7 f ing67.The flange member 53 ofanother ofthe vertical The Vertical sUPPOYtlJBIEYI'lent 15 rm 7 supports 24is then insertedinto opening 35 of theop- 7 positelydisposed base support 26 (cg. the rear, rightit mostsupport 24) to position the support 24 in an up- 7 ighrps msm As this flange member 53 is inserted into i 1 openingf35,,thefadjacent end 66 of roller member 20 -7isfitted intofopening 54 so as to rotatably support member 20 therein, Thepin 68 is then inserted into the reemp ion of boat'12 is lifted vertically and placed rearearriers inthe manner illustrated in FIG. 1. The

rotationof the roller member .20 as boat 12 passes thereover ylgreatlyeases the loading of boatSIZ' onto 7 trailertopflll; After positioning the boatas'shown in Fl G 71; the pin 62 is inserted through opening63.7Pin filengages pin 7 1 to prevent undesired rotation of rollerbar after-{boat 12 is loaded-thereon. Thestrap 7 60is thenplacd overthe boat and its length adjusted 7 so as tofit snuglythereacross. Boatl2 can be removed from trailer top 1 13 by reversing thisloadingjprocedure. Tojdisassemble e rner, 10, pin 768 is removed from onelofthe openings677tofallow laterally outward move- :rnent ofsvertical support 24.7 This disengages the'vertif 7 cal 1 element the slot-likeopenings in f 7 basesupportelernent 26and allows the oppositely dis posed vertical support to belikewise removed from the "respective slot-likeopening. The disassembled vertical supportelements 24andfroller member 20 can then be stored forfuture use. Since the base support elements each of the looped em ivjo after their insertion'into the respective openings 54fto secure the straphalves a and 60b to vertical support24. A conventional; adjustment buckle 75 is connected to the unsecuredjend ofi strap 60a and'receivesthe unsecuredendof strap 6012f.

26 are generally unobtrusive, theycan remain on the trailer toplS, Aslcan be seen from this description;

after basesupports 26 areinitially installed on trailer top 13, the carrierlfl can be readily assembled and dis own, the flange members are oppositely directed (LeLtheyfaceon: another)f-However,itshouldbe unigdersjtoodthat this orientation is not necessary where otherfrneans are utilized to removeably attach vertical 1. Load carrier apparatus for use on recreational vehicle covers, comprising:

a. first and second support members each having i. a generally vertically extending element having a flange along a bottom edge thereof, said flange being directed generally horizontally outward awayfrom said bottom edge; and a base element fixed attachable to the top surface of the recreational vehicle cover and including: an essentially horizontally extending base plate; a raised portion having transversely spaced side surfaces extending generally vertically upward from said base plate and a top surface extending transversely between said side surfaces to define a generally horizontally extending slotlike opening in said base element for removably receiving the flange of said vertically extending element; and a plurality of openings through said base element for receiving screw-like means engageable with the top of the recreational vehicle cover to fixedly attach said base element thereto; b. a roller member transversely extending between said vertical support elements and rotatably supported thereby for rotation in response to movement of a load thereover; and c. means for removably retaining said vertical support elements in said slot-like openings.

2. The load carrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second support members are oppositely disposed on the recreational vehicle cover having said flange portion of said first and second vertical support members insertable into said slot-like opening so as to be directed toward each other.

3. The load carrier apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

a. said vertical element of each of said first and second support members includes'a circular opening therethrough adjacent the uppermost edge thereof;

b. said roller member includes two oppositely disposed rod-like ends journalled within said circular opening in each of said vertical elements; and

c. the means for retaining said vertical support elements includes means removably attached to each 1 of said rod-like ends transversely outward from said adjacent vertical support element.

4. The load carrier apparatus of claim 3 including means removably attached to at least one of said vertical elements and engageable with said roller member for preventing rotation thereof.

5. The load carrier apparatus of claim 3 wherein said transverse roller member is of sufficient length for supporting a boat thereon. 

1. Load carrier apparatus for use on recreational vehicle covers, comprising: a. first and second support members each having i. a generally vertically extending element having a flange along a bottom edge thereof, said flange being directed generally horizontally outward away from said bottom edge; and ii. a base element fixed attachable to the top surface of the recreational vehicle cover and including: an essentially horizontally extending base plate; a raised portion having transversely spaced side surfaces extending generally vertically upward from said base plate and a top surface extending transversely between said side surfaces to define a generally horizontally extending slot-like opening in said base element for removably receiving the flange of said vertically extending element; and a plurality of openings through said base element for receiving screw-like means engageable with the top of the recreational vehicle cover to fixedly attach said base element thereto; b. a roller member transversely extending between said vertical support elements and rotatably supported thereby for rotation in response to movement of a load thereover; and c. means for removably retaining said vertiCal support elements in said slot-like openings.
 2. The load carrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second support members are oppositely disposed on the recreational vehicle cover having said flange portion of said first and second vertical support members insertable into said slot-like opening so as to be directed toward each other.
 3. The load carrier apparatus of claim 2 wherein: a. said vertical element of each of said first and second support members includes a circular opening therethrough adjacent the uppermost edge thereof; b. said roller member includes two oppositely disposed rod-like ends journalled within said circular opening in each of said vertical elements; and c. the means for retaining said vertical support elements includes means removably attached to each of said rod-like ends transversely outward from said adjacent vertical support element.
 4. The load carrier apparatus of claim 3 including means removably attached to at least one of said vertical elements and engageable with said roller member for preventing rotation thereof.
 5. The load carrier apparatus of claim 3 wherein said transverse roller member is of sufficient length for supporting a boat thereon. 